Top 25 Quotes by Samuel Johnson of 1744 - Page 24

Happiness, said he, must be something solid and permanent, without fear and without uncertainty.

Happiness," said he, "must be something solid and permanent, without fear and without uncertainty.

Samuel Johnson

Said, Permanent, Uncertainty

Samuel Johnson, John Hawkesworth (1820). “Rasselas, prince of Abissinia”, p.48

Example is always more efficacious than precept.

Samuel Johnson

Example, Statistics

'Rasselas' (1759) ch. 30

That is the happiest conversation where there is no competition, no vanity, but a calm, quiet interchange of sentiments...

Samuel Johnson

Communication, Vanity, Competition

James Boswell, Samuel Johnson (1824). “The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D., Comprehending an Account of His Studies, and Numerous Works, in Chronological Order: A Series of His Epistolary Correspondence and Conversations with Many Eminent Persons; and Various Original Pieces of His Composition, Never Before Published; the Whole Exhibiting a View of Literature and Literary Men in Great Britain, for Near Half a Century During which He Flourished”, p.335

Nothing is difficult, when gain and honour unite their influence.

Samuel Johnson

Focus, Gains, Influence

Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1857). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: With an Essay on His Life and Genius”, p.412

An author places himself uncalled before the tribunal of criticism and solicits fame at the hazard of disgrace.

Samuel Johnson

Writing, Criticism, Hazards

Samuel Johnson (1810). “The Works of the English Poets, from Chaucer to Cowper: Broome, Pope, Pitt, Thomson”, p.114

It ought to be the first endeavour of a writer to distinguish nature from custom; or that which is established because it is right, from that which is right only because it is established; that he may neither violate essential principles by a desire of novelty, nor debar himself from the attainment of beauties within his view, by a needless fear of breaking rules which no literary dictator had authority to enact.

Samuel Johnson

Writing, Views, Desire

Samuel Johnson, Peter Martin (2009). “Samuel Johnson: Selected Writings”, p.197, Harvard University Press

Whatever you have spend less.

Samuel Johnson

Money

Quoted in James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791) (letter to Boswell, 7 Dec. 1782)

Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes, And pause awhile from letters, to be wise.

Samuel Johnson

Wise, Art, Philosophy

'The Vanity of Human Wishes' (1749) l. 157

Commerce however we may please ourselves with the contrary opinion, is one of the daughters of fortune, inconstant and deceitful as her mother. She chooses her residence where she is least expected, and shifts her abode when her continuance is, in appearance, most firmly settled.

Samuel Johnson

Daughter, Mother, May

Samuel Johnson (1825). “The works of Samuel Johnson, with Murphy's essay, ed. by R. Lynam”, p.292

It requires but little acquaintance with the heart to know that woman's first wish is to be handsome; and that, consequently, the readiest method of obtaining her kindness is to praise her beauty.

Samuel Johnson

Kindness, Heart, Wish

Samuel Johnson, Hester Lynch Piozzi, James Boswell (1804). “The beauties of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: consisting of maxims and observations, moral, critical, and miscellaneous: to which are now added biographical anecdotes of the doctor, selected from the works of Mrs. Piozzi;--his Life, recently published by Mr. Boswell, and other authentic testimonies; also his will, and the sermon he wrote for the late Doctor Dodd”, p.135

The business of life summons us away from useless grief, and calls us to the exercise of those virtues of which we are lamenting our deprivation.

Samuel Johnson

Grief, Exercise, Useless

Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy, Francis Pearson Walesby (1825). “Essay on the life and genius of Dr. Johnson [by Arthur Murphy] Poems. Rasselas, prince of Abissinia. Letters”, p.311

All truth is valuable, and satirical criticism may be considered as useful when it rectifies error and improves judgment; he that refines the public taste is a public benefactor.

Samuel Johnson

Errors, Criticism, May

Samuel Johnson (1782). “The Beauties of Johnson: Consisting of Maxims and Observations, Moral, Critical, and Miscellaneous, Accurately Extracted from the Works of Dr. Samuel Johnson, and Arranged in Alphabetical Order, After the Manner of the Duke de la Roche-Foucault's Maxims”, p.176

It is scarcely credible to what degree discernment may be dazzled by the mist of pride, and wisdom infatuated by the intoxication of flattery.

Samuel Johnson

Pride, Degrees, May

Samuel Johnson (1848). “The Wisdom of the Rambler, Adventurer, and Idler”, p.216

We are told, that the black bear is innocent; but I should not like to trust myself with him.

Samuel Johnson

Black, Bears, Trust Myself

James Boswell, Samuel Johnson (1824). “The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D., Comprehending an Account of His Studies, and Numerous Works, in Chronological Order: A Series of His Epistolary Correspondence and Conversations with Many Eminent Persons; and Various Original Pieces of His Composition, Never Before Published; the Whole Exhibiting a View of Literature and Literary Men in Great Britain, for Near Half a Century During which He Flourished”, p.325

Many useful and valuable books lie buried in shops and libraries, unknown and unexamined, unless some lucky compiler opens them by chance, and finds an easy spoil of wit and learning.

Samuel Johnson

Lying, Book, Library

Samuel Johnson (1818). “A Dictionary Of The English Language; In Which The Words Are Deduced From Their Originals; And Illustrated In Their Different Significations, By Examples From The Best Writers: Together With A History of the Language, and an English Grammar”, p.7

I would be loath to speak ill of any person who I do not know deserves it, but I am afraid he is an attorney.

Samuel Johnson

Funny, Law, Would Be

Samuel Johnson (1836). “Johnsoniana: Or, Supplement to Boswell: Being Anecdotes and Sayings of Dr. Johnson”, p.88

Players, Sir! I look on them as no better than creatures set upon tables and joint stools to make faces and produce laughter, like dancing dogs.

Samuel Johnson

Dog, Laughter, Player

In James Boswell 'The Life of Samuel Johnson' (1791) vol. 2, p. 404 (1775)

It is better a man should be abused than forgotten.

Samuel Johnson

Men, Abuse, Forgotten

Samuel Johnson (1836). “Johnsoniana; or supplement to Boswell; being Anecdotes and sayings of Dr. Johnson, etc”, p.57

It is indeed not easy to distinguish affectation from habit; he that has once studiously developed a style, rarely writes afterwards with complete ease.

Samuel Johnson

Writing, Style, Ease

Samuel Johnson, Thomas Babington Macaulay Baron Macaulay (1854). “Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets: With Critical Observation on Their Works”, p.64

If we require more perfection from women than from ourselves, it is doing them honor.

Samuel Johnson

Women, Perfection, Honor

In youth, it is common to measure right and wrong by the opinion of the world, and in age, to act without any measure but interest, and to lose shame without substituting virtue.

Samuel Johnson

Age, World, Opinion

Samuel Johnson (1761). “The Rambler: In Four Volumes”, p.179

If a man begins to read in the middle of a book, and feels an inclination to go on, let him not quit it to go to the beginning. He may perhaps not feel again the inclination.

Samuel Johnson

Book, Reading, Men

James Boswell, Samuel Johnson (1859). “The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: Including a Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides”, p.65

Advice, as it always gives a temporary appearance of superiority, can never be very grateful, even when it is most necessary or most judicious; but, for the same reason, every one is eager to instruct his neighbors.

Samuel Johnson

Grateful, Giving, Advice

Samuel Johnson, Arthur Murphy (1857). “The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: With an Essay on His Life and Genius”, p.139

Never mind the use--do it!

Samuel Johnson

Mind, Use, Utility

James Boswell, Samuel Johnson (1824). “The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D., Comprehending an Account of His Studies, and Numerous Works, in Chronological Order: A Series of His Epistolary Correspondence and Conversations with Many Eminent Persons; and Various Original Pieces of His Composition, Never Before Published; the Whole Exhibiting a View of Literature and Literary Men in Great Britain, for Near Half a Century During which He Flourished”, p.78

When speculation has done its worst, two and two still make four.

Samuel Johnson

Inspirational, Humility, Two

The Idler

Samuel Johnson Quotes - Page 24

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